Police debunk kidnap of 200 people on Abuja-Kaduna highway

By Austine Agbo Emmanuel, Kaduna

Kaduna State Police Command has dismissed as falsehood reports alleging the abduction of between 150 and 200 persons along the Abuja-Kaduna Highway.

The report, which surfaced on social media platforms and was credited to Diaspora Digital Media, claimed that the highway, one of Nigeria’s most vital road corridors was the scene of a mass kidnapping.

In a swift rebuttal, the police described the report as “entirely fabricated and baseless.”

Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Mansir Hassan, said in a statement issued to journalists in Kaduna on Thursday said that there had been no such incident, stressing that the highway had not witnessed any case of kidnapping in the past two years.

“The Abuja-Kaduna Highway is under 24-hour surveillance and joint patrol by the Police, Military, DSS, and other security agencies,” he said.

He warned purveyors of fake news to desist from inciting panic and destabilizing public peace, noting that those found culpable in spreading the false alarm would be tracked, invited for questioning, and prosecuted.

“Such reckless publications not only mislead the public but also threaten the relative peace and security currently being enjoyed,” the statement added.

The command reiterated its commitment to the safety of lives and property across the state and urged citizens to verify information from official sources before circulating it.

The Kaduna State Government, in collaboration with security agencies, continues to intensify efforts toward sustaining peace and security in the state.